Tools & Advice | Alumni for Public Schools

Extracurricular Support

Here are suggestions on how to support your partner school in extracurricular activities:

Speak during or help organize Freshman Orientation — use this time to introduce new students to the partnership.
Make a banner with students to celebrate the partnership of the club and the school.
Organize a Garden Day / Field Day / Beautification Day / Sports Day.
Work with after-school clubs, including art, dance and newspaper. Discuss possible related careers with students, such as curator, dancer or journalist.
Invite the alumni club to school performances, assemblies or sports games.
Help with the school newspaper.
Help with campus transition and beautification.
Bring outside groups to speak to students, such as the the Positive Coaching Alliance, which one alumni group arranged to talk about life lessons through sports.
Organize a field trip to an art gallery, museum or sporting event.
Persuade your company to sponsor a field trip to your office.
Organize a literacy night for students and parents.
Develop a mentoring program where students and mentors meet once a month to discuss a different topic (favorite music, what we want to be when we grow up, favorite book, etc). Maintain relationship between visits by emailing students and checking on homework or scholarship application status.
Encourage prominent alumni to serve as Principals for a Day at your partner school. (Learn more about Principal for a Day)

Learn more about how to help in the following areas:

For more ideas about volunteer activities, check the CPS Volunteer Opportunities Directory